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When you’re craving a wholesome bowl of soup but don’t want to end up with days’ worth of leftovers, this single serve Minestrone Soup is your go-to! Crafted with a mix of hearty vegetables, bacon, and pasta, it’s the perfect blend of comfort and nutrition. And let’s not forget, it’s incredibly easy to whip up. If you love minestrone soup, you’re going to be all over this homemade version. Trust me, it’s a bowlful of cozy goodness you won’t want to miss!
Searching for other effortless single serving soup recipes? You’ll love our smooth Creamy Tomato Soup, zesty Taco Soup, hearty Black Bean Soup, and nourishing Vegetable Soup.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Convenience: This single serving recipe ensures you won’t be drowning in leftovers.
- Versatility: From veggies to the choice of broth, it’s easy to customize to your liking.
- Nutritious: Packed with vegetables and beans, this soup is a balanced meal in a bowl.
- Flavor Depth: Bacon adds a smoky dimension, while an optional topping of Parmesan lends a nutty richness.
- Scalability: Need more than one serving? No problem. This recipe doubles beautifully.
RELATED: The Best Soup Recipes For One
What Is Minestrone Soup?
Minestrone Soup is a beloved Italian classic that brings together a medley of vegetables, beans, and often a starch like pasta or rice. While deeply rooted in traditional Italian cooking, what makes this soup truly shine is its adaptability. It’s the kind of dish that embraces the ingredients you already have in your pantry or fridge.
Whether you’re keen on sticking to the basics or adding your own twist with seasonal vegetables or different proteins, this soup is your canvas. It’s this inherent flexibility that has made Minestrone a household favorite across the globe.
Ingredients
The beauty of Minestrone Soup lies in its versatility. While my base recipe includes specific ingredients for a balanced, flavorful meal, you’re not limited to just those. Feel free to omit or include elements based on your dietary preferences or what you have available. Not a fan of beans? Skip them. Want a vegetarian option? Swap out the chicken broth. The choice is yours, making this soup an excellent way to utilize ingredients you already have.
Here are the ingredients for my go-to single serving recipe:
- Bacon
- Chopped onions
- Garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- Canned beans
- Diced tomatoes
- Mixed vegetables
- Chicken broth
- Salt & pepper
- Small shaped pasta
If you have any ingredients leftover from this minestrone soup recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
How To Make Minestrone Soup
- Begin by cooking the chopped bacon in a 2-quart saucepan. After the bacon has crisped, remove the pieces from the pot and set them on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until tender.
- Add beans, vegetables, tomatoes, the cooked bacon, chicken broth and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
- Finally, add the pasta which will cook while the soup continues to heat. I like using Conchiglie pasta and they look like small seashells.
Expert Tips
- Go Vegetarian: For a meat-free version, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and skip the bacon.
- Al Dente Pasta: Cook the pasta in the soup until it’s al dente to avoid overcooking, as it will continue to soften once off the heat.
- Meal Prep Friendly: If you’re making the soup in advance, cook the pasta separately and mix it in when you’re ready to enjoy to keep it from getting mushy.
- Customization is Key: Feel free to utilize ingredients you have on hand. Whether it’s different shapes of pasta, beans, or vegetables, this soup is flexible.
- Protein Options: Boost your soup’s protein by adding cooked leftover chicken or ground beef.
- Rice Alternative: Swap pasta with rice if you prefer. Just make sure to cook the rice separately for the best texture.
Serving Suggestions
You’ve put in the effort and crafted a scrumptious bowl of Minestrone Soup, but what can make it even better? The answer often lies in what you serve alongside it. Here are some pairings that will elevate your small batch of Minestrone to a full-on feast.
- French Bread: A slice of warm, crusty bread not only helps soak up the delicious broth but also adds a satisfying textural contrast.
- Grated Parmesan: A light sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese right before serving can add a delightful savory kick.
- Italian Chopped Salad: A flavorful salad with a light vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the hearty soup.
- Herb Garnish: A sprinkle of freshly chopped basil or parsley can add an extra layer of flavor and a pop of color to your dish.
- Red Wine: A glass of Italian red wine can make this meal extra special.
Frequently Asked Questions
The flexibility of Minestrone Soup lets you add almost any vegetable you like or have on hand. Popular choices are potatoes, zucchini, spinach, and green beans.
Keep your leftover minestrone in the fridge for up to a week. To reheat, use either the microwave or stovetop. If you’re thinking of freezing it, bear in mind that vegetables may soften upon reheating. For those who added pasta, remember that it doesn’t freeze well, so consider freezing the soup without it and adding freshly cooked pasta upon reheating.
Absolutely, this recipe can easily be doubled if you’re looking to make more servings. Just double up on the ingredients.
Other Single Serving Soup Recipes You’ll Love
Looking for more cozy, comforting, and easy-to-make single serving soup recipes? You’re in the right place! Here are some other spectacular soups that are not only easy to make but also perfectly portioned for one.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
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If you’ve tried this small batch of minestrone soup or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Minestrone Soup For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 strips bacon
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ cup canned red beans , rinsed and drained
- ½ cup canned diced tomatoes
- ¾ cup frozen mixed vegetables or use a similar amount of fresh, chopped vegetables
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ cup dried small shaped pasta
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into pieces about ¼-inch thick. In a medium-sized pot over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring now and then, until it's crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon onto a plate lined with paper towels.
- In the same pot, add the onions and sauté for 1 minute or until they become slightly see-through.
- Toss in the garlic and continue cooking for an additional 30 seconds.
- Mix in the Worcestershire sauce, red beans, diced tomatoes, and mixed vegetables, stirring the mixture occasionally for another minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth and reincorporate the crispy bacon.
- Season the broth with salt and pepper, then increase the heat until the soup begins to bubble gently.
- Turn down the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes, giving it a stir occasionally.
- Add the pasta to the pot and simmer on low heat. Cook until the pasta is perfectly tender yet firm to the bite, which should take about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Ladle the hot soup into a bowl and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- Layer Flavors: Start by sautéing onions, carrots, and celery to create a flavor base. This simple step adds depth to your soup.
- Pasta Perfection: To avoid overcooked pasta, add it to the soup according to its cooking time, usually in the last 10 minutes.
- Bean Benefits: Use a variety of beans for texture and flavor. If using canned, rinse them to remove excess salt and starches.
- Veggie Variety: Chop veggies in uniform sizes to ensure even cooking. Use any vegetables you have on hand to add nutrients and color.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made this recipe last week for the first time and absolutely loved it! I’ve never made minestrone soup before (only had it in restaurants).I made mine vegetarian instead (used Smart bacon and Better than Bouillon Vegetarian) and it was so good! Thanks for the recipe! Looking forward to trying more recipes.
Hi,
I tried this minestrone soup and it was delicious! It made more than a single serving, so I will have enough for lunch tomorrow. I am over the moon to have found your recipes on line! I have to watch my weight but I don’t want diet food. So I really rely on the nutritional charts for each recipes. I would love it if you would put together a book for 1600 calories or less and include a dessert from time to time. The recipes you have compiled gives lots of varieties, choices and prevents food waste. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to get my own copy of your cookbook. I will be trying the clam chowder next🎉!
I doubled the recipe so we will have a leftover for a couple of lunches. Next time I’ll decrease the pasta. I added a couple shakes of italian seasoning. Because hot soup is too hot for use to eat when it’s first cooked, I added 2 ice cubes to cool it down a bit. Topped it with fresh grated parm cheese. Very good. So glad I found this site. I use it often.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you very much for this site! It’s lockdown gold for a single person who also doesn’t really know how to cook. 😉
We’re so glad you are enjoying the recipes, Lauren!
For medical reasons I do not eat beef or pork, how about recipes with out bacon?
Hi Marjorie,
We have many meatless recipes here. You might be interested in browsing through our “meatless meals” article – https://onedishkitchen.com/single-serving-meatless-recipes/. Also feel free to leave out the bacon in this minestrone recipe – you won’t even miss it.
Joanie
This recipe looks awesome!
BUT, I am a little bummed because, yes its cut down to size for one… but I can half or 1/4 any recipe. The problem is, now what do I do with all the leftover 1/2 can of beans, 1/2 can of tomatoes, the rest of the bag of frozen veggies? Either i have to get super creative to use them up, or (more commonly) they spoil before I can. That is what is so frustrating about cooking for one.
Hi Ana, I always suggest saving the rest of the ingredients not used in a recipe to use in different recipes. For instance, the remainder of the beans can be used in a Chili Cheese Baked Potato ( https://onedishkitchen.com/chili-cheese-baked-potato/ ) or in a Red Beans and Rice For One (https://onedishkitchen.com/slow-cooker-red-beans-and-rice-for-one/). Keep the remainder of the frozen vegetables in the freezer to use again when you need it. Canned diced tomatoes can be frozen once the can has been opened or use the remainder in other recipes like chicken chili (https://onedishkitchen.com/chicken-chili-for-one/) or Pasta with Vodka Sauce (https://onedishkitchen.com/pasta-with-vodka-sauce-for-one/). You can search our site for the ingredient and a list of recipes made with that ingredient will show up for you. I hate to waste food and don’t recommend it. Hope these suggestions help.
Make double using all the ingredients and freeze.BC
I just made this minestrone as it’s 24 degrees outside! My husband opted for a cheeseburger (he’s not really a soup person – his loss!! LOL!) So I found this because I am actually always looking for recipes we can both eat that are healthy but sometimes, he ends up eating something else and I still want to eat things he may not be crazy about. Anyway, made this tonight – it was delicious! I omitted the bacon and the Worcestershire sauce, sprinkled some cheese on it and it was so warming on this cold night! I used really tiny shells (soup shells) and it really made a good amount of soup! I ate it all!!
Annamaria, I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you so much for letting me know.